Albania's prime minister refuses to resign as student protests continue in Tirana

16 October 2026

Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama said he would not resign after three days of clashes in the capital Tirana, where demonstrators have demanded that he step down.
Thousands of students took to the streets and attacked several government buildings on the second day of the protests.
The demonstrations began outside the Ministry of Education, with students calling for better university conditions and job prospects.
Part of the education ministry building was set on fire, while the prime minister's office and the finance and interior ministries and surrounding businesses were also attacked.
Riot police clashed with protesters and used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them.
Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu called for calmness, self-restraint and maturity and said Albania does not need to burn to change, while Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro said civic student protest and violence against public buildings are two different things.